Some Sell Outs Sufi ‘Muslims’ In Washington
By kami • Apr 17th, 2008 • Category: Politics • 7 CommentsWashington, D.C., After the September 11, it has become the fashion for some con-artists, who could disguise themselves as Sufis, to get attention by trashing Islam. In last August, I attended an event at The Heritage Foundation (THF), a conservative think tank, which is located at walking distance from my home in Washington DC, around Capitol Hill.
The speakers included an Iranian-American, a so-called Sufi “Muslim” named Shaykh Muhammad Hisham Kabbani, whose beard looks little longer than that of Usama Bin Laden. While Usama is determined to make Islam a religion of fascism and oppression by his brutal, violent acts against innocent civilians, Kabbani seems to be endorsing the same concept as a gentle and sweet Sufi ‘Muslim.’
Before the Q-A session, the audience watched a documentary named “Islam vs. the Islamists, which was produced by the Center for Security Policy. The film frames a good, of course, Kabbani and his type of ‘Muslim’ vs. the rest all of us as the bad Wahhabi, Shia — or whatever because I never bother to understand the difference – and irrational, angry, and violent Muslims.
In the event these people expressed some truth about the intolerant attitude of some Muslims, but as whole the event was propaganda against Islam and Muslims, I believe.
After the panel finished their talk, I told Kabbani that, first of all, for the purpose of raising his concerns about some intolerant Muslims his team has chosen a place (THF) that is known for its Islam-bashing. Off course, the organizers from the Heritage foundation didn’t feel good about my comments and they responded in rebuttal to my statement. Prior to September 11, I used to be big time fan of conservative Republicans. Post-September 11, I learned, however, that among some conservative Republican critiques, African-Americans were replaced by Muslims, in the sense of being an oppressed race or class.
My bad habit of speaking my mind had gotten me in trouble in the past at THF. My name was taken off of their E-list serve, and I had to complain to the Foundation President Dr. Feulner, who knew me as a good conservative Asian-American. I reminded him that it was un-American to deprive someone from participation for speaking his mind. It worked and he wrote me about putting my name back. Coming back to Kabbani, I asked him about the lack of respect of Muslim life in the West and I asked him if that is one of the factors of causing anger among Muslim masses in the third world. He didn’t answer that part of my question. Alike I, Kabbani spoke broken English, but his listening comprehension is really good, which made me believe that he ignored my question intentionally. In the past, I have observed that some writers, like the Pakistani intellectual Hussein Haqqani, made sure that in the public setting his answers don’t displease his Western listeners. So keeping Haqqani in my mind at the end of the meeting, in the presence of his assistant and another white gentleman standing next to Kabbani, I asked him the same question privately.
Instead of looking at me, Kabbani tried to garner some support for his counter question to me, from the gentleman standing next to him. Then partially looking at me, he asked if I were not protected in the States against intolerant Muslim elements.
By pointing toward the gentleman, I told Kabbani that he didn’t need to appease the white man standing next to him. Then I stated to him that anybody, including him and me, is protected equally under the U.S. constitution in the States, but my question was about U.S. foreign policy, especially toward the Muslim countries. Once again, instead of answering my question, he said if I don’t like this country—America– I should go back to my home country, Pakistan.
I could not tolerate his manipulation and hypocrisy anymore. Of course, I was very upset. I looked into his eyes angrily and said you are an intellectually dishonest and very hypocrite man– the very long beard and robe you are wearing is nothing but a charade.
While walking back toward the elevator, I thought how easy it has become to take the center stage in these conservative think tanks for these so-called ‘Muslims’ who might be making their living by making most Muslims seen as violent people, unfortunately.
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Kami came from Pakistan to University of Toledo, Ohio, as a student in 1985. He moved to Washington, D.C. in Jan. 1986 and earned a B.A. in economics and an MBA. By training he is a stock broker. He lives around Capitol Hill and writes for fun.
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kami for your information the documentary “Islam vs. the Islamists” is based on the work of Hussain Haqqani, the nominated ambassador for US. Atcually he the right hand of Daniel pipes, a well known fascist ne-cons. Actually Hussain Haqqani and Salman of Janun band and many like these two guys are paid for this work.
When lies make into truths
Is when folks dwell on untruths
Muslim neo-cons are a wishy-washy lot
Their assignment is to create fitna and rot
Kami Butt: You are trying hard to be recognized by someone, anyone anywherein, Pakistan or USA as a useful and talented individual. Which you might well be; the route you have chosen is little less favoravle. People who think they must demolish others first before they have a chance to move on are basically ill advised. Nothing positive can develope on the basis of only nagative thoughts. You must find yourself what they taught you in the basic course in Marketing (in the Business School), remember the concept “Market Niche”? Find it for yourself and it will be fine. Stop this adverse talks about others, negative advertising only hurts an unknown entity (Commoditty / product). Your this attempt at populism is hurting your own cause. Your readers are taking your message as Anti American propaganda, which can hardly be your goal. After all you have taken an oath which reads:
“Being a Pakistani-American” Kami you have taken following Oath:
Oath of Allegiance for Naturalized Citizens
Oath of Allegiance
The oath of allegiance is:
“I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen; that I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I will bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform noncombatant service in the Armed Forces of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform work of national importance under civilian direction when required by the law; and that I take this obligation freely without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; so help me God.”
“Then I stated to him that anybody, including him and me, is protected equally under the U.S. constitution in the States”
What you said is correct. However, it holds as long as you are faithful to the : Oath of Allegiance that you have taken by choice. Even your religion whatever that is (you claim above that you “never bother to understand”) would expect from you and all believers to be honest when take an oath. And the Oath you took is: Oath of Allegiance
“I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen; that I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I will bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform noncombatant service in the Armed Forces of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform work of national importance under civilian direction when required by the law; and that I take this obligation freely without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; so help me God.”
So help him God, please, and keep him from hurting Islam and Muslims !!
By repeating mention of new Pakistan ambassador to U.S. Prof. Hussain Haqqani, Kami is obviously trying to get his attention. Otherwise what is the need for talking of Kami’s conversations with Haqqani of which there is no evidence. only Haqqani would know what was said or Kami and Haqqani would probably not remember because he is impirtnat man who has many converstaions in many places.
The way to really argue is to quote Shaikh Kabbani and Prof Haqqani from their many published works and criticize their arguments if kami disagrees with them. Other than that, it is just attention getting without any real substance.
The headline of this post is eye catching. But why are the people Kami does not agree with “Sell-outs”? Why is a stock broker who lives in Washington DC and writes for fun not a sell out? After all he is also earning his living from US system?
Shaikh Kabbani and Prof haqqani have their opinions and beliefs. Kami can disagree with them. but there is not one way to lead or serve Muslim interests. Just because Kami’s way and other people’s way is different does not make anyone “Sell-out”.
It is time to stop doing this accusation of sell out against anyone we do not agree.